Then the place to be Tuesday evening is the Russellville Center for the Arts for the first performance of the Singing Men of Arkansas as they perform their Home For Christmas Concert.

The all-male choir will be joined by musicians and ballet dancers for a performance that Singing Men of Arkansas director Mike Bedford called “magical!”

Many remember Bedford as the former musical director at Russellville’s First Baptist Church. Others know him from other churches he has served across the state. Still others know Bedford as the co-founder of the Singing Men, who have gained statewide fame for their beautiful and powerful concert performance.

“I am the former musical director at First Baptist Church of Russellville,” he said via phone on Friday. “I have a real heart for Russellville.”

Bedford has a strong background in choral work. He has conducted large choirs and orchestras in Texas, Florida, Missouri and Arkansas but now resides in Northwest Arkansas, according to the Singing Men’s website.

He has produced concerts nationally with such artists as Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, B.J. Thomas and Bill Gaither. He formerly served as vice president on the Gospel Music Association Board of Directors, which produces the nationally televised Dove Awards. He has toured choirs and produced concerts nationally and internationally. He formerly served as minister of music at University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, and produced the Fayetteville Christmas Pageant at Walton Arts Center.

Wendy Sparks, the operations manager at the Performing Arts Center, said this performance is a wonderful way to open the holiday season in the Arkansas River Valley.

“This is a new experience for Russellville,” she explained. “This is also a great way for us to get name recognition by having such a fine performance. We’re every excited they wanted to come here for a show.”

The Singing Men have performed these Christmas shows for a number of years in Northwest Arkansas in the Fort Smith area.

This year they are doing two shows in Bentonville and another in Van Buren.

Bedford said he is excited about the Russellville performance because the city’s new performing arts center is the best venue in the state for such shows.

“I’m excited about the show,” he said. “Last year we had a tremendous response to our performances in Northwest Arkansas. It is a special show every holiday season.”

Bedford said the choir is made up of talented men from all walks of life who train and work hard to perform great and wonderful music.

“This is a fabulous show,” he said.

The Singing Men of Arkansas Home For Christmas Concert is Tuesday night at The Center for the Arts at Russellville High School starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12 and $15 and can be purchased at www.singingmenofarkansas.org, on tickets.com, or by calling (800) 965-9324.

Tickets are also available at the Performing Arts Center box office. For information, call (479) 498-6600.

Tickets can be purchased for the concert the night of the performance.

Singing Men of Arkansas musical director Mike Bedford said his group has a corporate sponsor willing to provide tickets for people who can’t afford tickets. He said people wanting to see the performance who can’t afford tickets can call the box office to make arrangements to receive tickets.